MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has finally shown his face in public for the first time since the March 11 arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, attending the “Bring him home: A prayer rally for PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte)” event at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Saturday.
In Davao City, a visibly emotional Mayor Sebastian Duterte told supporters that “we will fight, stand up and we will fight back,” during his speech at the 88th Araw ng Dabaw celebration in the city’s Rizal Park.
Dela Rosa revealed he intentionally skipped Duterte’s Hong Kong event on March 9 for fear of being arrested.
“My flight to Hong Kong was at 3 a.m., but somebody leaked information to me. God is not asleep. I was told that there is already a warrant and both president Duterte and I will be arrested in Hong Kong,” he said.
According to Dela Rosa, he then informed Duterte’s former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea that he would no longer fly to Hong Kong and instead remain in the Philippines to file a petition for certiorari and prohibition.
However, he and Duterte's lawyers only filed the petition before the Supreme Court on March 11, as a last attempt at preventing Duterte’s transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s custody in The Hague.
“While he (Duterte) was being brought to the plane and he was struggling, I wasn’t able to do anything since I was in Davao,” he said.
The former Philippine National Police chief, who implemented Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, also blasted the PNP.
Dela Rosa berated President Marcos for “betraying” them to the ICC.
“President Marcos always said that we do not recognize the ICC as we are no longer a member, that we will no longer cooperate. What is his reason now? Interpol? Bulls**t!” he said.
Dela Rosa declared that he would be ready if the ICC comes for him next, despite his recent appeal to Senate President Francis Escudero for temporary protection.
Go: Duterte deprived of medicines
Meanwhile, Sen. Bong Go alleged that Duterte has been deprived of his prescribed medicines.
“Who will be responsible if something happens to him?” Go said at Saturday's Liwasang Bonifacio rally.
He urged politicians who benefitted from Duterte's leadership to step up and help him.
Sebastian, believing his family is being oppressed, urged the people “not to put to waste the sacrifice of Rody Duterte.”
“While we are still here, let us not stop. We will not be defeated as long as we as Davaoenos are united,” the former president’s youngest son said.
What was supposed to be a civic-military parade in celebration of the 88th Araw ng Dabaw turned into a unity walk.
Duterte supporters held protests in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Bataan. — Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Mark Ernest Villeza, Edith Regalado